OSU spring -- Carter example of players being pushed

By TIM MAY

Urban Meyer lays it out there when we media have a chance to speak with him. For example, on Tuesday when I asked about the progress of defensive tackle Chris Carter, Meyer didn’t dance around the expectations this month of spring drills for the big man.

“Spring practice is to develop scheme, but more importantly to develop guys,” Meyer said. “At some point, with free training table, we’ve got to get something back.”

Carter was moved from the offensive line to the defensive line this time a year ago with the intent of seeing if he could become an A-gap stuffer. At a listed 341 pounds, he showed flashes of potential, especially in the 2012 spring game, but drifted into the shadows of the depth chart in the fall.

During the short-yardage and goal-line scrimmaging the media got to watch Tuesday, the third-year sophomore was thrust into the lineup several times by defensive line coach Mike Vrabel. Carter made some plays, and he got blocked on some plays. But he stuck his nose in there every time.

“At some point you’ve got to give back to the program and play,” Meyer said. “So we’re force-feeding some guys.”